Cherished clothes stitch together new exhibit

Hanging from tiny clothespins are the main focus of the latest art exhibit, “A Gathering,” at GCSU.

Artist Jon Coffelt hand stitches tiny clothes that each tell a special story while lining the walls.

Coffelt’s first piece doesn’t have a special name, but it has an important narrative that explains why he does what he does.

“I made my first miniature for my partner after he ruined his favorite shirt. I couldn’t fix it, but at least he still had a piece of it to remember it by,” Coffelt said.

He continues to let people keep parts of their cherished clothes. One of the pieces on display at the exhibit is a miniature mining uniform that a family member of a man lost in a mining accident sent Coffelt.

Coffelt has made miniatures for important people like the ambassador to the Czech Republic and famous people, an actress from 1950′s “All About Eve.” Each one, however, receives the same care and attention no matter who receives it.

“I have done several pieces where all the children, after their mother had passed, wanted the special jacket that she always wore. They sent it to me and now they all have a piece of it,” Coffelt said.

His favorite pieces change with each new one he makes and sometimes Coffelt even references other artists, like Van Gogh, in his works. But according to him it is not what the clothes look like, it’s the story they tell.

“People have to trust me with the fabric from their loved ones clothes. That’s what makes this so special,” Coffelt said.

Even though each piece has a number attached, Coffelt refers to his works by the names of the people he associates the clothes with, like his Aunt Joy.

Sophomore nursing major Alex Godfrey liked how “very detailed” the clothes were.

“You could tell a lot of work was put into it,” Godfrey said.

Sophomore Yolanda Williams did not know what the exhibit was all about when she came for a class, but she enjoyed it overall, she said.

“The little clothes are so cute, but the most touching part of it is the stories,” Williams said.

Coffelt lives and works in New York City, but he comes from the South and is a self proclaimed “Tennessee Hillbilly.” He knows many people in Milledgeville and that is the reason why he agreed to show his pieces at GCSU.

His expert sewing skills are evidenced through a mini sweater where he had to sew each little pearl on by hand. This artistry came from watching his grandmother as a child and he perfected it while working for fashion designer Willi Smith.

“I like what I do now because it is a way for all of his to keep the stuff that we morbidly hide under our beds in a more unique way,” Coffelt said.

Posted by Danielle Paluga on Apr 9 2010. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry